Pianoforte-frame.



No. 646,577. Patented Apr. 3, 1900. H. M. GREENWOOD & F. n. BENNETT.

PIANDFORTE FRAME.

(Application filed Jan. 23,.1900.)

2 Sheets8heet I.

(No Model.)

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No. 646,577. Patented Apr. 3, I900. H. M. GREENWOOD 8|. F. R. BENNETT.

PIANOFORTE FRAME.

(Application filed Jan. 23, 1900.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

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I TTORNE'YS m ca. PHOTO-LITNO.. WASHING UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFIcE.

HERBERT MELCHOR GREENYVOOD AND FREDRIOK RIOKARDS BENNE T, OF

LONDON, ENGLAND.

PlANOFORTE-FRAM E.

SIEGIFICA'IION forming part of Letters latent No. 646,577, dated April 3, 1900.

Application filed January 23, 1900. derial No. 3,105. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, HERBERT MELCHOR GREENWOOD, gentleman, residing at 32 Garlies road, Forest Hill, Londpn, in the county of Surrey, and FREDRICK RIOKARDS BENNETT, pianoforte-tuner, residing at (5 Beaconsfield roadfl/Villesden Green,London, England, subjects of Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in and Relating to Pianoforte-Fram es and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The object of the present invention, which relates to pia11oforte-frames,is to improve the tone ofthe instrument by dispensing with the ordinary braced iron frame which supports the lower front edge of the wrest-plank and is placed in front of the sound-board, obstructing the latter with its braces. The removal of the usual front iron frame, while leaving the sound-board free and unobstructed, of course entails loss of support to the lower front edge of the wrest-plank, rendering the latter liable to buckle, bulge, or pull over under the stress of thewiring, and our invention provides means for overcoming this 0 difficulty.

According to our invention the bent plate to which the Wires are hitched and which is usually cast integral with a braced front iron frame is either a separate casting or part secured in front and clear of the sound-board in any suitable manner or it may be cast integral with a light iron frame of novel construction, which leaves the face of the soundboard absolutely unobstructed, as will here- 0 inafter be described. To compensate for the loss of the support afforded to the wrestplank by the ordinary braced iron frame, we stiffen the former by applying a truss device to the back thereof, as will be hereinafter de- 5 scribed.

We will now fully describe our invention and the manner of performing the same, having reference to the annexed drawings, in which similar letters refer to like parts in all the figures, and Wherein Figure 1 is a front elevation of a pianoforteframe constructed in accordance with our in vention. Fig. 2 is an end View, and Fig. 3 a plan of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section on line as 00 Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section on line 1 1 Fig. 1; and I? Fig. 6 is a detail.

The frame comprises the usual base-plank a, from which extend upward the vertical braces 1), upon which the wrest-plank cis sup- 6o ported in the ordinary manner. To the front edges of the outer braces b are bolted metal plates (Z, the upper ends of which fit into rabbets in the extremities of the wrest-plank, and thus assist to some extent to hold the same in place. 7

c is the bent plate to which the wires are hitched, the same, with its extension c, being secured to the plates (Z aforesaid, the latter and the bent plate and extension being pref- 7o erably one casting and forming a light iron frame which in no Way obstructs the soundboard.

f f are bent metal straps, preferably cast on the bent plate, which pass beneath the frame and up the rear faces of the wood braces b, to which they are bolted. In the drawings these straps f are represented as separate parts securedin place by bolts g traversing the frame. (See Figs. 4 and 5.) 8o

72 is the usual soundboard, which, it will be noted, is absolutely unobstructed by the iron portion of the frame. This greatly improves the tone of the instrument; but at the same time the wrest-plank is deprived of the support to its lower front edge afiorded by the ordinary construction of braced iron frame. Now to compensate for this loss of support and prevent all risk of the wrestplank c buckling or bulging under the stress of the wiring we apply a truss device, as before stated, to the back of the wrest-plank and will now describe in detail the particular arrangement illustrated in the drawings.

Along the upper edge of the front face of the wrest-plank is bolted the metal strap i, and along the upper edge of the rear face of the wrest-plank is bolted a similar strap 7;, at each end of which latter projections Z are formed, which constitute abutments for the ends of the curved metal truss rod or bar m to bear against. The stress of this truss rod or bar (which is preferably of wrought-iron) is regulated by the screw-bolt n, which passes through the wrest-plank and the straps and screws into the truss-bar m. The said trussbar effectually stiffens the wrest-plank and enables it to withstand the stress of the wiring without buckling or bulging, and as security against any liability to pull over the bolt 92 is caused to engage a hole in an extension f of one of the straps f, as illustrated, Fig. 4, or the extremity of this extension f may be bent over and engage the upper edge of the truss-bar m for the same, purpose, Fig. 6.

Although we have illustrated an upright frame in the drawings, it is clear that with obvious slight modifications our invention may be equally well applied to horizontal frames.

In conclusion we would observe that we do not confine or limit ourselves to the precise constructional details of the frame as above described, and illustrated in the drawings, as the same may be obviously somewhat modified without in any way departing from our invention as set forth.

hat we claim, and desire to secure by Let ters Patent of the United States, is

1. The combination with a pianoforte-frame of a wrest-plank having a truss applied to the back thereof, and a part of the frame engaging with the truss device, whereby risk of pulling over is obviated, substantially as described.

2. In a pianoforte-frame the combination of a trussed wrestdank carried by a suitable braced frame, a sound-board in front of said frame, and a bent plate secured in front and clear of the sound-board and having metal straps which pass beneath the frame and up the backs of the braces to which they are bolted the sound-board being left entirely unobstructed, substantially as described.

In a pianoforte-frame the combination of a trussed wrest-plan k carried by the braces of a suitable frame, a sound-board in front of said braces, and a bent plate secured in front of the sound-board and having metal straps which pass beneath the frame and are secured to the back thereof, one of said straps being provided with an extension which engages the truss device of the wrest-plank, sub stantially as and for the purpose described.

t. In a pianoforte-frame the combination of a trussed wrest-plank carried by a braced frame a sound-board in front of said frame, metal plates secured to the front of the outer braces or sides of the frame, a bent plate carried by said plates and straps provided on the bent side which pass beneath the frame and are secured to the back thereof, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. The combination wi th at pian ofortc wrest-- plank of metal straps extending longitudinally of th e front and rear faces thereof, abut ments at each end of the rearstrap, acurvcd metal bar bearing against said abutments and a screw passed through the straps and wrest plank and engaging said truss bar whereby the stress thereof is regulated as de scribed and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

Ill-{BERT MELCHUR GREE-Nli'OOl). FREDRICK RICHARDS ldlXNllWl.

Vitnesses:

STEPHEN MINEs, Josnrn \VESLEY Rave. 

